Numbers fall again

For the sixth month in a row the sales tax revenue for Odessa has slipped — making the month of October a scary one.

“I expect to see declining numbers as we go along,” assistant city manager James Zentner said. “It will probably last through Christmas and next year.”

For the month of October, Odessa received sales tax revenue of $1,532,527.23. That amount is down 24.6 percent from October 2008’s check of $2,033,757.37

“We saw this coming a little bit,” City Manager Richard Morton said. “That said, 24 percent in your first month down is a big hit.”

Morton said city officials would have to watch the sales tax numbers for another month to see what happens. October is the first month of the fiscal year for the city.

“I think we estimated for this year, close to a 10 to 15 percent reduction,” Morton said. “So 24 percent is more than we anticipated, but at the same time we don’t know what the future holds.”

Of the sales tax revenue, the city received $1,226,021.78 while the Odessa Development Corp. will obtain $306,505.45 The Ector County Hospital District brought in $1,279,289.61 in October, a 35.6 percent drop from a year ago.

At the hospital board meeting Tuesday, Chief Financial Officer Robert Abernethy said that Medical Center Hospital had to delay work on the Center for Women and Infants due to a drop in sales tax receipts in July.

Sales tax revenue is based on sales two months prior. October collection is based on August sales.

Despite the decline in spending, Johnnie’s co-owner Crystal Foster said business at the home decorating store has not been affected.

“We’ve been very blessed,” Foster said. “I think people are more particular where their money goes, but it hasn’t effected our business.”

By the numbers

Here is a look at April sales tax checks    for area cities and how the checks compare July 2009:

City Check                 Pct. Change

1. Alpine                $132,114.53            up 35.6
2. Andrews                $251,847.76            down 35.6
3. Big Lake                $69,870.42              down 13.78
4. Big Spring                $410,035.22            down 16.61
5. Crane                $39,807.70              down 31.53
6. Fort Stockton                $236,532.47            down 18.82
7. Goldsmith                $15,278.91              down 22.56
8. Grandfalls                $2,172.51                down 25.39
9. Kermit                $35,545.56              down 31
10. Lamesa                $83,737.86              down 12.4
11. Marfa                $20,488.97              up 8.15
12. McCamey                $18,917.95              down 66
13. Midland                $2,464,934.87         down 20.3
14. Monahans                $95,442.47              down 37.8
15. Odessa                $1,532,527.23         down 24.6
16. Pecos                 $80,026.47              down 44.48
17. Presidio                $24,789.48              down 13.2
18. Pyote                 $767.94                down 35.57
19. Rankin                $6,692.88                up 68.7
20. Seminole                $81,105.07              down 20.57
21. Stanton                $23,803.57              down 25.42

Toyah                $380.37 down 54.24

1. Wickett                $5,888.47                down 55.72
2. Wink                $13,277.65              down 10.78